This year marks NNEDV’s 25th anniversary. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) was the ambitious idea of a small but mighty group of state domestic violence coalition leaders* who identified the need for a national, unified voice for survivors of domestic violence and their advocates. These inspiring, courageous women spent their own money and devoted countless hours to make this vision a reality by founding the Domestic Violence Coalition on Public Policy (“DVCOPP”).

Tomorrow, February 10, 2015, marks Safer Internet Day, an international day aimed at growing public awareness around Internet safety. Making the internet great for everybody takes everybody.

At the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), we understand the unique part that technology – and in particular the Internet – plays in the lives of victims and survivors of domestic violence. On the one hand, technology can be used to connect survivors with a network of supportive friends and family, it can be used to maintain privacy and safety, or to access help. On the other hand, technology can also be misused by abusers to exert power over or control a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking.

On February 7, 2015, the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) observes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and stands in solidarity with our sisters who shine a light on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Black communities each day.

Today, President Obama released his 2016 budget, which commits modest investments to programs serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, including the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), domestic violence program funding, and some Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs, as well as innovative funding across the federal budget.

“Beginning with the NFL, the past year's unprecedented attention on domestic violence and sexual assault has fueled collective outrage and the will to work toward change,” said Kim Gandy, President and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). “It has also meant that more victims are coming forward for help – and the nation’s responders need to have the resources to help.”

If you haven’t seen it already, No More’s Super Bowl ad is poignant, powerful, and thoughtfully demonstrates how important it is for us to listen when survivors reach out. The ad will run sometime during the first quarter and is sure to grab everyone’s attention. This Sunday, as families and friends gather to watch the commercials or the game, we have the opportunity to kickstart conversations about ending domestic violence and sexual assault.